Update: Three charged after false Roxana shooting text

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons filed disorderly conduct charges Wednesday against three male juveniles in connection with a false report of shots fired at Roxana High School yesterday afternoon.

Two of the juveniles are 15 and live in Roxana and Wood River. A third juvenile, 16, is from South Roxana. While the charges are felonies, the cases will remain in juvenile court. The juvenile petitions were filed today.

Police were contacted yesterday afternoon at 1:08 p.m. regarding a possible active shooter at Roxana High School. The lockdown was lifted an hour later after multiple agencies who had responded to the scene determined that there were no shots fired nor was there an active shooter. The investigation by police subsequently determined that the threat, sent via text message, was a hoax.

The lockdown was lifted an hour later after multiple agencies responded including police from Roxana, Wood River, South Roxana, Hamel, Hartford, Bethalto, Madison County, Illinois State Police, Granite City and East Alton.

The male juveniles were taken to the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center in Edwardsville. Potential penalties range from supervision, probation or juvenile department of corrections.

These charges, as well as the statements made herein, are based upon probable cause. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Roxana Superintendent told reporters at a Tuesday press conference following the lockdown and release of students that school disciplinary measures will be taken against those involved after meeting with the Roxana Police Department about their findings.

At the same press conference, Roxana Police Chief Will Cunningham warned students about the dangers and consquences of hoaxes.

“This is not the direction to go. This is a very serious incident. This is something that all local responders and schools are trained for. To think that someone would connive of a prank like this is a very serious mistake,” Cunningham said.